Iran's full nuclear program restarted in line with NPT
Iran-UN, Politics, 2/13/2006

Iran would resume nuclear research by today, Monday, in the presence of International Atomic Energy Agency's inspectors, Majlis Speaker Gholam-Ali Haddad-Adel.

"Iran is determined to implement its decisions. When we announced our readiness to resume nuclear research, we should wait for the IAEA inspectors to come to Iran and supervise this phase," Haddad-Adel told reporters.

Asked about the possibility of resuming nuclear talks, he said, "The atmosphere of talks will undoubtedly be different from what was before the IAEA Board of Governors' decision to report Iran to the UN Security Council." Pointing to Iran's peaceful nuclear activities, he said, "The IAEA article of association set legal methods for countries including Iran to act within the frameworks of international treaties and agreements.

"We say what will be the use of IAEA if a country, which has opened doors of its facilities and repeatedly announced it has no intention of building nuclear weapons, are barred from nuclear technology under pretext that it may divert from peaceful nuclear activities. In that case, existence of the IAEA will be meaningless." In response to a question on reasons behind Iran's refusal to adopt more steps to prevent the IAEA Board of Governors' from reporting its nuclear case to the Security Council, the speaker said, "Iran has set a plan which is regarded by experts as its strategies." He added, "Iran will not close doors of negotiations to any country. Russia's nuclear plan can also be discussed. But we insist on our rights." Foreign Ministry Spokesman Hamid-Reza Asefi Sunday stressed Iran has reviewed all probabilities with respect to the referral of its dossier to the the UN Security Council and will not be taken by surprise.

Talking to domestic and foreign reporters at his weekly press conference, he said, "Do not stop at the UN Security Council station because staying there would not be helpful." Government follows up national nuclear program in the context of Non-Proliferation Treaty, Government spokesman Gholam-Hossein Elham said Monday.

"The government is committed to its legal undertakings. It follows up nuclear program in the context of NPT and Safeguards Agreement of International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), he said in his weekly press briefing.

Asked about misinterpretation by certain Western press of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad statement on February 11 that certain Western states should respect Iran's legitimate rights enshrined by Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), otherwise, Iran would see no reason to stand by NPT, Elham said, "Iran signed the treaty over 30 years ago. Iranian nuclear program has been drawn up in the context of the NPT." "We carried out voluntary measures even beyond the Safeguards Agreement of IAEA in the past two years to remove all ambiguity and false ideas on national nuclear program." The spokesman added, "Recent threats proved that certain Western states are after an illegitimate goal to deprive Iran of peaceful nuclear energy right. This runs counter to NPT and the IAEA Charter." He said the IAEA Safeguards Agreement aims to respect the right of the member states to nuclear energy for civilian use and not to deprive them of the energy, stressing, "Iran should legally enjoy our membership at international bodies.

"The European states and the IAEA should officially recognize Iran's inalienable right and support the country's peaceful nuclear achievements.

"If this approach is implemented, we will remain committed to our undertakings. Otherwise, there will be no reason for Iran not to enjoy positive advantages of treaties and not to consider a change in policy making." Elham added, "We will make decision. We are committed to international treaties to preserve our inalienable rights." Government spokesman Gholam-Hossein Elham said here Monday that Iran will not wait for the next session of the International Atomic Energy Agency's Board of Governors before proceeding in its nuclear program.

Elham made the disclosure while addressing domestic and foreign reporters during his weekly press conference in response to a question as to what measures Iran would take by the time the IAEA Board of Governors holds its next session.

"The Islamic Republic of Iran is determined to use nuclear technology for peaceful purposes. The Iranian Atomic Energy Organization is following and implementing a decree issued by President (Mahmoud Ahmadinejad) in this regard," he said.

"The government's decision is irreversible," he added.

Asked about the US' calculated pressures on Iran, he said that the United States was moving toward a dead-end. "Pressures on Iran are not new." "The US has used all illegal and illegitimate ways over the past 27 years to achieve its objectives. The tested are being re-tested which shows the US' lack of wisdom," he said. "If the Islamic Republic of Iran were to yield to those pressures, there would be nothing left of the Islamic Revolution by now," he added.

In response to a question on US pressure in the talks between Iran and Europe, the spokesman said, "Iran has repeatedly announced it favors logic and dialogue (to settle the dispute) based on legal and international regulations. "But it will not surrender to bullying by any country, whether on the issue of talks or pressure.

"If negotiation will mean Iran surrendering its legitimate demands, this will be another kind of pressure that will bear no fruit. But if logic is asked for, we will reciprocate within the bounds of our national interests." President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad warned Saturday that Iran could revise its nuclear strategy in case Western countries insist on blocking its efforts to access peaceful nuclear technology in accordance with NPT rules and regulations.

The president was speaking before millions of people gathered at Azadi Square in western Tehran marking the anniversary of the victory of the Islamic Revolution in Iran.

Addressing Western countries, he said, "If we see that by relying on the regulations of the Non-Proliferation Treaty the Iranian nation's right to have access to peaceful nuclear technology would be denied, the Iranian nation will revise its strategies." "Up until now, Iran's policy has been to make use of this peaceful technology in specialized fields within the framework of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and the NPT." The president said Iranian are a very tolerant people, but warned "do not make us lose our patience." Stressing that Western countries have damaged the authority of the NPT, he reiterated that the Iranian nation "will not give up its right and your threats and intimidation will not bear any fruit." "This nation is not afraid of any power," he added, and urged the whole world to take note of this.

Previous Stories:
  Asefi dismisses Austrian meddlesome statement   (2/10/2006)
  New York Times: Iran notifies IAEA of nuclear enrichment restart   (2/8/2006)
  Iran ending diplomacy on nuclear issue   (2/6/2006)

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